How much will Celtic miss Asian Games-bound Yang?

WHAT HAPPENED
Yang Hyun-jun has cemented his place in Celtic’s starting lineup this season but will be absent for the club’s next four matches because he is attending the Asian Games with South Korea. His late winner at St Mirren was his second goal inside three days, following a strike against Aberdeen earlier in the week.

The 24-year-old had been close to moving to Birmingham City in January but stayed at Celtic after Martin O’Neill returned as manager. He agreed new terms in the summer and has become a regular contributor this campaign.

KEY CONTEXT
- Yang helped Celtic during the run that delivered a league and cup double after O’Neill’s return.
- This season he has recorded two goals and one assist in seven appearances.
- Celtic’s style this term places emphasis on width; Yang would likely be the first-choice left-sided option were it not for his tournament call-up.
- South Korea’s Asian Games group in Japan includes Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

WHY IT MATTERS
Yang’s absence coincides with a demanding spell for Celtic: a Premiership trip to St Johnstone, a League Cup quarter-final against Rangers, a home Europa League fixture with Ferencvaros and then a home Old Firm league meeting. Those fixtures underline why Celtic will feel the loss of a player who provides attacking width and recent decisive goals.

Celtic have options on the bench — Sebastian Tounekti replaced Yang at St Mirren and has previous goal and assist contributions this season, plus eight goal involvements last term — and Jota is also nearing a return from a long-term knee problem incurred in April 2025. Pundits quoted in the source voiced confidence in Celtic’s squad depth, though the article notes there may still be a drop in quality when Yang is unavailable.

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Which player(s) will fill the left-wing role in Yang’s absence and whether they can reproduce his attacking output.
- How Celtic perform across the four matches while Yang is at the Asian Games.
- The timing and impact of Jota’s anticipated return from injury.
- South Korea’s progress in their Asian Games group games against Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

KEY FACTS
- Yang will miss four Celtic matches while representing South Korea at the Asian Games.
- He has two goals and one assist in seven appearances so far this season.
- Upcoming matches during his absence: St Johnstone (Premiership), Rangers (League Cup quarter-final), Ferencvaros (Europa League, home), then a home Old Firm league fixture.
- Yang nearly left Celtic for Birmingham City in January but stayed after Martin O’Neill’s return and signed a new contract in the summer.
- Sebastian Tounekti replaced him at St Mirren; Tounekti scored and assisted in a 4-0 cup win at Dundee United earlier this season.
- Jota is close to returning from a long-term knee injury suffered in April 2025.